Transcript Highlights:

• Inc. is from Japan; they do plastic injection for Toyota, steel technologies.
• The technology that we use is not often off the shelf; we have to develop it ourselves.
• We also use a lot of technology to ensure that we are addressing any issues.
• We also have Positive Train Control, which is a technology on locomotives that includes GPS and will
• When we use this technology, we can determine whether we need to stop the train immediately or continue

Transcript Highlights:

• Technology is evolving. so fast, our requirements process does not evolve at the same time, and we've
• Today when we ask for technology that's being used.
• Technology is evolving so quickly that every time we field capabilities, we need to be more agile.
• Do you have the, do you lack the authorities or do you lack the technological capability?
• The ability to bring advanced technologies. new companies, startups into the joint force and make it

Committee: Senate Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel

Keywords: national security, military readiness, Kane nomination, defense budget, China threats, Russia, collaboration, modernization

Summary: The meeting centered on the nomination of retired Lieutenant General Dan Kane for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delving into various security concerns and the strategic environment facing the U.S. today. Testimonies highlighted the growing threats from adversaries such as China and Russia, with discussions around the necessity of maintaining and modernizing military capabilities to address these challenges. The need for agility in military operations and enhancing collaboration among various defense agencies was underscored. Further, concerns were raised regarding the defense budget and the importance of a strong national defense strategy were prevalent throughout the discussions. The committee members collectively emphasized the need for superior readiness and modernization to keep pace with global threats.

Transcript Highlights:

• for the management of state vehicles, the implementation and/or retirement of several information technology
• systems in a short period of time. and or retirement of several information technology systems in a
• The next issue we got into was their information technology systems, what the chair mentioned.
• vehicle per month, and have been doing so since the mid-1990s, amid four different information technology
• In short, department information technology access privilege controls for FleetWave need enhancement

Summary: The subcommittee first heard a lengthy Auditor General presentation on the Department of Management Services’ fleet management operations. The audit found major problems with oversight, recordkeeping, policies, fee-setting, purchase and disposal approvals, public auction controls, and FleetWave system access and processing. Key findings included that 2,279 vehicles valued at more than $57 million could not be matched between FleetWave and FLAIR, disposal records were missing or incomplete, user access remained active long after employees separated, and the department had not documented a reasonable basis for its $1.75 per-vehicle monthly fee. Members expressed strong concern about the accuracy of the state’s fleet inventory and the risk of waste or misuse. DMS Secretary Allende said the department concurred with the findings, was working with the Auditor General, and planned corrective actions, including better training, clearer guidance, improved reconciliation, and possible centralization or pilot programs for fleet purchasing and management. The committee then returned to vacancy discussions with several agencies. The Division of Administrative Hearings said its two long-vacant judges of compensation claims positions had been hard to fill because of low pay and short reappointment terms, but the chief judge said the division could operate without them and offered those positions up as part of a reduction exercise. The Public Service Commission reported 42 vacancies but said statutory deadlines were still being met, though staff workloads and depth of analysis were affected. The commission also said vacancies help it manage salaries within its trust-fund budget. Members questioned whether some of those positions were truly needed given the lack of delays. The Florida Gaming Control Commission reported 29 vacancies, including a vacant chair that prevented appointment of an inspector general, and said the chair vacancy was a gubernatorial appointment issue. The acting executive director also said the commission’s compulsive gambling prevention program had lapsed after no responsive bids were received for a new contract, but an invitation to negotiate was nearly complete and a new provider was expected soon. The Public Employee Relations Commission reported that its caseload had more than doubled after Senate Bill 256, which increased union recertification work; it said it was meeting deadlines only with overtime and that the workload had not fallen despite decertifications. Members asked for follow-up data on union cases, vacancy needs, and whether some positions across agencies could be reallocated to better match workload.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you explain a little bit about what some of the IT, some of the technology upgrades are that you're
• And then we focus strategic decisions on technology, infrastructure, resiliency, workforce development
• And then technology investments have become very important to us.
• Become very important to us: cybersecurity, data privacy, and the systems and technology, hardware and
• All the while, we look to enhance, engage, and leverage technology.

Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met to organize for the session, take roll, and hear introductory remarks from members and agency heads. Members briefly introduced themselves and their districts, with several noting transportation, economic development, emergency response, military, and hurricane recovery issues in their areas. Chair Shove then outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction and current-year budget, noting a total of about $20.3 billion, with most funding coming from trust funds and only a small share from general revenue. The committee also heard that upcoming meetings would include presentations from major agencies in the subcommittee’s purview. The first agency presentation was from the Department of Military Affairs and the Florida National Guard. Major General John Haas described the Guard’s three missions—supporting national security, responding to state emergencies, and adding value to the state—and highlighted deployments for hurricanes, border security support, and ongoing support to the Department of Corrections. He emphasized that the Guard is understrength relative to Florida’s size and demand, said recruiting is strong, and identified force structure growth as the main challenge. Members asked about aircraft, funding sources, and recruiting; Haas explained the Guard’s helicopter and fixed-wing fleet, said aircraft purchases are funded through legislative appropriations, and reported strong interest in the Florida State Guard’s recruiting pipeline. Executive Director Mark Thieme then described the Florida State Guard’s expansion into air, ground, and maritime capabilities, including Black Hawks, boats, drones, canine search-and-rescue teams, and ground support units. He said the agency supported immigration enforcement and hurricane response, and asked for continued legislative support to expand aviation, maritime, and medical capabilities. Members praised the Guard’s disaster response work and asked about aircraft, funding, and staffing. Secretary Cord Byrd of the Department of State followed, focusing on election administration, election security, the SunBiz and voter registration IT systems, arts and culture, corporations, libraries, and historical resources. He said Florida’s election system remains a national model, reported two prosecutions for non-citizen voting, and discussed modernization needs for legacy IT systems. The committee also asked about voter lookup tools, password privacy for SunBiz, and arts funding vetoes. Secretary Alex Kelly of the Department of Commerce described the agency’s broad portfolio, including workforce, economic, community, and international commerce functions, plus housing recovery, broadband, small business support, rural infrastructure, defense-community grants, and law enforcement recruitment bonuses. He said access to capital is the biggest barrier for small businesses and noted ongoing work with CareerSource, the Department of Corrections, and other partners on workforce and reentry. Secretary Jared Perdue of the Department of Transportation then outlined FDOT’s record budget and five-year work program, emphasizing emergency response, preservation and maintenance, safety, and major investments in roads, ports, airports, transit, and spaceport infrastructure. He said the department has removed millions of cubic yards of storm debris, is ahead of schedule on the Moving Florida Forward initiative, and faces a large unfunded project backlog. Members asked about supply chain issues, project priorities, and workforce needs, and Perdue said FDOT is open to collaboration on recruitment and retention.

Transcript Highlights:

• , technologies, technologies, um<01:04:38.040><c> the</c><01:04:38.160><c> safety</c><01:04:38.520><c
• </c><01:15:12.920><c> pragmatically</c> apply these technologies pragmatically apply these technologies
• ,</c><01:23:58.600><c> examining</c> understanding the technology, examining understanding the technology
• It also demonstrates the rapid evaluation of new technologies like onboard monitoring technology and
• Technology and machine vision systems that complement detector systems to make the rail network even

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um because of your aged infrastructure, whether that be your boilers or your transformers, a boiler that's
• > your</c><03:34:16.080><c> your</c> your boilers or or your your your boilers or or your your transformers
• , transformers, transformers, a<03:34:18.800><c> boiler</c><03:34:19.120><c> that's</c><03:34:19.359>
• to see announcements for special meetings there, and that would be sufficient in this new age of technology

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a technology that has kind of rolled out, and we're catching up.
• This is a... ...technology that has kind of rolled out, and we're catching up.
• Technology all around us is developing all the time, and a lot of it is utilized.
• But specifying that we are going to purposely prohibit a technology that we have...
• I mean, it's a constant battle for technology. And distribution centers.

Bills: SB40 , SB104 , SB136 , SB164

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Keywords: SB40, Driver Privacy and Safety Act, automated license plate reader, ALPR, license plate reader, vehicle surveillance, privacy, data sharing, law enforcement data, immigration enforcement, reproductive health care, gender-affirming care, civil liberties, surveillance, public records, Inspection of Public Records Act, New Mexico State Police, Department of Public Safety, data sovereignty, vehicle tracking

Transcript Highlights:

• The first is Cody Vensky, Senior Policy Counsel on Surveillance and Technology with the National ACLU
• My name is Stephanie Montero, and I represent the Information Technology Industry Council.
• We represent more than 30 companies and seven trade associations across the technology, health care,
• These concerns are particularly true for emerging technologies like AI or quantum computing, where an
• As technology becomes more and more available, we're seeing more and more better testing, frankly.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 20, a prior-authorization measure aimed at exempting certain medications and treatments for seriously mentally ill adults from repeat insurance prior authorization, while also extending prior authorization approvals to three years for chronic maintenance drugs. The sponsor described the bill as the latest in a series of bipartisan prior-authorization reforms and accepted an amendment from the Health Care Authority and the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance to apply the bill to adults only and to cover PBMs in the interagency purchasing collaborative. Supporters, including NAMI New Mexico and state health officials, argued the bill would reduce barriers to needed care, especially for mental health treatment. Opponents from health plans, PBMs, and insurers warned the bill was too broad, lacked clear definitions for serious mental illness and chronic conditions, created patient-safety concerns, and should have a shorter reauthorization period and later implementation date. After committee discussion, the sponsor agreed to work on a committee substitute, and the bill was rolled over for a later meeting. The committee then heard Senate Bill 53, the Chispa data privacy bill, which would impose broad limits on the collection, sale, and use of personal data, require opt-in consent for many uses, strengthen rights to access, correct, and delete data, and create enforcement mechanisms including a private right of action. Supporters from advocacy, women’s, behavioral health, reproductive health, and civil rights groups said the bill was needed to protect sensitive health and location data, prevent surveillance and criminalization, and give New Mexicans real control over their information. Business, technology, insurance, and hospital representatives opposed the bill, arguing it was more restrictive than other states’ privacy laws, would burden small businesses and health-related services, create compliance uncertainty, and risk limiting digital services and innovation. After extensive questioning about data breaches, opt-in consent, nonprofit exemptions, and the bill’s impact on businesses and health care access, a motion to table failed 5-4, and the committee then passed SB 53 on a 5-4 vote. The committee next heard Senate Bill 86, which updates the state’s harassment-by-telephone law to cover electronic communications such as social media, messaging apps, and email. The sponsor and a Las Cruces police chief said the change would modernize an outdated 1967 statute and help law enforcement address harassment and domestic violence through current technology. The bill drew support from the governor’s public safety advisor and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, and members asked a few clarifying questions about the wording. The committee approved SB 86 unanimously, 9-0. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 96, on regulated childcare zoning requirements, using a committee substitute. The sponsor and the Early Childhood Education and Care Department said the bill would reduce confusing zoning and fire-code barriers to opening or expanding child care homes and centers, helping address a statewide shortage of child care slots and supporting working families. The discussion began with the committee substitute and an explanation that the measure is intended to streamline local requirements and expand child care supply.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is technology just like any other technology.
• Any other technology, early investors are typically high-end, higher-wealth individuals.
• Just to clarify, Department of Tax, you said that was the high technology tax credit or the solar tax
• No, so the renewable energy technology tax credit.
• No, so the renewable energy technology tax credit. Thank you. Any other questions?

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• chairman touched on, and as we see the increasing prevalence of AI and the increasing quality of the technology
• As technology advances, people can now create highly realistic fake videos, audio recordings, and images
• As technology advances, people can now create highly realistic, fake videos, audio recordings, and images
• This bill keeps pace with emerging technologies that threaten the trust in our elections, and quite frankly
• mislead the public to prevent full participation in our democracy, including through these new technologies

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House first suspended Joint Rule 12 to allow consideration of a petition to designate the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court as the Judge Leslie E. Harris Courthouse. It then took up two election-related bills reported out of Ways and Means: House 5093, to protect against election misinformation, and House 5094, to enhance disclosure requirements for synthetic media and political advertising. Supporters described both measures as targeted responses to AI-generated deepfakes and deceptive election content, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and protecting voter trust rather than banning speech outright. House 5094 was debated first. An amendment was adopted to exempt certain broadcasters, cable/satellite operators, program producers, and streaming services when paid to broadcast deceptive election-related material. The bill then passed to be engrossed on a roll call of 156-0. House 5093 was then debated, with supporters saying it would prohibit deceptive AI use within 90 days of an election and address materially deceptive audio, visual, and election-related communications. Two amendments were offered and defeated: one to move the state primary earlier, and another to narrow the bill’s scope by striking part of the definition of materially deceptive media. The bill passed to be engrossed on a roll call of 153-3. Earlier in the session, the House also passed to be enacted several local bills, including measures affecting Rockland’s charter, Williamstown’s senior property tax exemption eligibility, and Rochester’s fire chief employment. Later, the House rejected concurrence with Senate amendments on a bill related to teacher preparation and student literacy and instead appointed a committee of conference. The chamber also observed a moment of silence for former Quincy public servant Arthur Tobin before adjourning to meet the next day at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the committee thought, instead of putting a square peg in a round hole, that with changing technology
• So the committee thought, instead of putting a square peg in a round hole, that with changing technology
• In particular, given how rapidly all this technology changes, the more detail you put in, the quicker
• In particular, given how rapidly all this technology changes, the more detail you put in, the quicker
• So I feel like it's a conversation we need to have with this technological environment.

Bills: HB78 , HB112 , HB190 , HB292 , HB410 , HB427 , HB437

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Keywords: jurisdiction, city court, Bogalusa, civil law, court limit, Louisiana, child relocation, custody, mileage measurement, co-parenting, Louisiana law, software, computer programs, standard of care, liability, design, development, manufacture, sale, security deposit

Transcript Highlights:

• with folks like that all the way up to sophisticated campaigns that are finding new ways with new technologies
• And so the way we deliver technology services really is built on four pillars.
• using our applications and is familiar with those features, even if they're not using assistive technology
• using our applications that is familiar with those features, even if they're not using assistive technology
• And the thing is, is that this is not owned by the technology group, but rather that this is something

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• President, tomorrow at 1:30, on behalf of Senator Williams, also, we're going to have a technology computer
• affairs as it relates to our computer system statewide and look at some appropriations issues and technology
• issues</c><00:10:14.240><c> and</c> some appropriations issues and some appropriations issues and technology
• </c><00:10:15.600><c> That's</c><00:10:15.839><c> 1:30,</c><00:10:16.320><c> room</c> technology issues
• That's 1:30, room technology issues.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 23 February, 2026; 4:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Greg Larry brings experience from previous roles at Pivotal, Silvest Technologies, and Aircrafts.
• Previous roles at Pivotal, Silvest Technologies, and Arrow Environment.
• Pivotal is centered on new technologies and public safety.
• Greg has enjoyed a busy 30 years of selling technologies that result in public safety.
• Judiciary and Elections and further referred to the Committee on Appropriations, Transportation, and Technology

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're technology platforms that connect drivers with riders, and we don't own or operate vehicles.
• However, we offer a technological solution.
• So with our suggestion of disassociating, that's a technological solution instead of sealing.
• Only technology of being able to access Only technology of being able to access is<01:30:54.199><c> Healthcare
• </c> use of interactive Audio Only technology use of interactive Audio Only technology is is is sufficient

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committees heard testimony on several transportation and consumer-related bills. HB 496, relating to mamaki tea labeling, drew support from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Weights and Measures, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau, which said the bill would help protect a culturally important crop and the Hawaii brand. Members questioned Agriculture about staffing and whether the bill was being used to reopen a package-labeling inspection branch; the department said it currently has no Oahu inspectors for that function but has a place for an additional inspector. No opposition was registered on the measure. HB 978, relating to electric utilities, and HB 1316, relating to DLNR/park reservations, were also heard. HB 1316 received support from State Parks, and members discussed where reservation fees would go and whether the statewide reservation system for three parks would cover its costs; the committee indicated a change would be made so fees go to the special fund. HB 914, relating to water carriers, drew support or comments from the PUC, Department of Agriculture, Department of Transportation, Young Brothers, and the Hawaii Harbor Users Group. The main discussion focused on the proposed automatic rate-adjustment mechanism tied to the GDP price index, with members asking for alternative index ideas and questioning whether the PUC already had authority to adopt such a mechanism. Young Brothers said the measure would provide clarity and help recover inflationary costs, while the chair raised concerns about repeated rate increases and asked for further testimony on possible alternative indices. HB 1161, relating to transportation and road usage charges, received support from the Insurance Division, DOT, and the State Energy Office, with comments from the Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Hawaii Food Industry Association. Members asked whether counties need state authorization to adopt mileage-based charges and why the bill included funding for implementation; DOT said it is helping counties build the data collection and billing system and that Honolulu is handling much of the collection work. A question was also raised about whether plug-in hybrids would be covered, and DOT said vehicles under the federal electric-vehicle definition would be included. HB 1301, relating to transportation network companies, drew opposition from the Hawaii Association for Justice, Lyft, and Uber, all arguing that classifying TNCs as common carriers and changing liability rules would raise costs, reduce access, and disrupt the current statewide framework. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's time to get our activity started for today, Science, Technology and Energy, for Monday, February
• </c><00:43:15.079><c> neutral</c> more fuel diverse and Technology neutral more fuel diverse and Technology
• And the primary reason that people consider this technology is to reduce operating cost.
• </c> and the technology and the technology used<00:51:35.559><c> and</c><00:51:35.760><c> lastly</c><
• </c><00:53:38.119><c> used</c> Bernardi um this these Technologies used Bernardi um this these Technologies

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chief Technology Officer at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and director of the
• Chief Technology Officer at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and director of the
• We're in an age of technology.
• There are a lot of aspects of technology that need to be managed today.
• As financial technologies continue to evolve, California's ethics laws must keep pace.

Summary: The committee heard several immigration-, health-, food access-, and tribal-rights-related bills. AB 1725 would require disclosure of oil wells near homes and sensitive sites and stronger methane monitoring; supporters described health and safety harms in communities near wells, while apartment, realtor, building, and chamber representatives opposed or sought amendments, arguing the bill should better target the responsible industry and fit existing disclosure processes. AB 1650 would require privately rented or leased vehicles used by government agencies for enforcement to be clearly identifiable and equipped with safety lighting; supporters, including immigrant-rights advocates and local officials, said unmarked vehicles create fear and confusion during ICE operations, while the chamber sought clarification and noted exemptions for ordinary undercover law enforcement. AB 1857 would prohibit grocery restrictive covenants that keep new supermarkets from opening after a store closes, with supporters framing it as a food-access and anti-hunger measure; grocers and retailers raised concerns but said amendments addressed many issues, and the committee moved the bill forward as amended to Appropriations on a recorded vote, with all members present voting aye except one absent member and the bill placed on call. The committee also heard AB 1876, which would codify federal health-care nondiscrimination protections in state law. Supporters from Equality California, Disability Rights California, Planned Parenthood, and other health groups said it would preserve coverage protections for LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and other protected classes amid federal rollbacks; opponents argued it would entrench gender-affirming-care standards and criticized the underlying medical framework. The bill passed to Appropriations on a recorded vote, with most members voting aye and one no vote, and was placed on call. AB 1908 would allow public entities to use judgment obligation bonds to finance self-funded victim compensation funds; Los Angeles County said the bill would fill a financing gap for faster compensation, and the committee advanced it on a recorded vote and placed it on call. AB 1881, the California Indian Freedom Act of 2026, would protect California tribes’ access to sacred sites and traditional practices on state public lands and require meaningful consultation; it drew extensive support from tribal leaders and Native organizations, while cities, counties, utilities, builders, and business groups were opposed unless amended, largely seeking clarification and narrowing. The bill was amended to focus on state public lands and passed to Appropriations on a recorded vote, then placed on call. Later, AB 2465 would bar businesses that profit from private detention facilities or contract with immigration-enforcement agencies from receiving state grants, loans, or tax credits and create an immigrant resilience fund. Supporters said the state should not subsidize businesses tied to immigration raids and detention; opponents, including the chamber, bankers, and contractors, raised vagueness and scope concerns, especially over what contracts would be covered. Members said they supported the concept but wanted the bill tightened, and it passed to Revenue and Taxation on a recorded vote with one no vote and was placed on call. The committee then heard AB 2662, which would create a formal state process to monitor and report on federal immigration enforcement actions and their impacts; supporters from legal aid and health centers said raids have chilled access to work, schools, clinics, and naturalization, and the bill was presented as a modest accountability measure. The transcript cuts off before any vote on AB 2662. The committee also approved a consent calendar of several bills and resolutions, sending some to Appropriations and others to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chief talked about technology.
• We are stuck using approximately 1980s technology in the courtrooms right now.
• It's analog technology.
• Second, there was a two million... technology special from last year.
• We want to see the courtroom technology we're talking about.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• It may sound like a technology or a technical sales tax change, but in practice it can fall hardest on
• Software costs are not isolated to the technology sector. They touch nearly every industry.
• And since that exemption was enacted, Colorado's... that exemption was enacted, Colorado's technology
• They have chosen to take it from the technology sector because it's a convenient revenue target.
• Colorado should be focused on attracting technology, innovation, and economic growth, not taxing the

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All of this is cutting-edge technology. And I want you to know, this is just one piece.
• All of this is cutting-edge technology. And I want you to know, this is just one piece.
• We noted this in data technology. You know, these things look real.
• Again, you know, these things are kind of technologies allowing, and in the wrong hands can be used for
• You know, with technology moving forward and buildings being built across all campuses, I think this

Bills: HCR97 , HR168 , SCR33 , SB112 , SB346 , SB347 , SB353 , SB488 , SB504 , SB507 , SB518

Committee: House Education

Keywords: hunting education, firearm safety, outdoor recreation, curriculum, youth education, conservation, collegiate athletics, funding, name image likeness, revenue sharing, NCAA compliance, student-athlete support, financial sustainability, work-based learning, task force, internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, cooperative education, co-op